[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 27, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H9511-H9512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           NO BUDGET, NO PAY

  (Mr. DURBIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, Speaker Newt Gingrich announced last week 
that if political gridlock in Washington results in closing down 
Federal services to our Nation, so be it.
  The Speaker also went on to say that he, as the Speaker, is prepared 
to force America into a default on its debt for the first time in our 
history if he does not get his way.
  Mr. Speaker, too many politicians on Capitol Hill are talking about a 
political train wreck as if we are playing with toy trains. A shutdown 
of Federal services is a serious matter. Members of Congress should 
take it seriously.
  That is why I have introduced legislation that would cut off the 
paychecks of Members of Congress and the President if the Federal 
Government shuts down because of budgetary gridlock. 

[[Page H 9512]]
No budget, no pay. If we do not finish the job, we do not get paid. It 
is just that simple.
  We were sent to Washington to solve problems, to work together, to do 
things in a constructive way. Gridlock and train wrecks are politics as 
usual. If the political leaders in this town fail, the salaries of 
Congress and the President should be the first on the budget chopping 
block.

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